Archives for October 2014

To achieve the professional look in sewing, it is absolutely essential to press as you sew. In addition to the iron and ironing board, it is helpful to have pressing cloths and a tailor’s ham.

Fiber, texture and thickness of the fabric determines how the fabric is pressed. Fiber content dictates the temperature of the iron, and texture dictates the method of handling the fabric. The iron must be set at the right temperature for the fabric content Always try a test swatch before pressing your garment.

Press each piece and seam as the garment is constructed. Use pressing strokes – an up and down lifting motion of the iron. This avoids stretching or distorting sections of the garment. Steam can shape the fabric and eliminate fullness. To set creases and press permanent press fabrics, use a press cloth.

Pressing the seams during the sewing process makes it easier to sew the seams that will “cross” any of the seams already sewn. Gently open the seams and press flat. You will save time if you sew several seams, then press them all at once, before moving on to the next step.

Always press on the wrong side to guard against shine. Remember not to over-press. This results when too hot an iron is used, leaving the iron in one place too long, too much moisture or using an inadequate press cloth.

Remove pins and basting stitches before pressing. Pins mar the fabric and soleplate of the iron; basting stitches may leave an imprint.

When pressing the details of a garment, press the entire piece and not just the area around the dart, or particular detail you are working on. When the entire garment is finished, give it another pressing to get out any wrinkles that may have formed while you were sewing.

If you’re like the majority of us, buying a pattern is the easy part. Getting that pattern to FIT properly is the hard part. The “problem areas” can be as different as night and day, but whether the hips are too tight if the top fits, the shoulders are too wide if the bust area fits, or “there’s no way I can get this waist to fit” – the bottom line is that it can take considerable time to get that new pattern to fit properly. Once all the kinks are worked out and we can do the “happy dance” because the pattern FINALLY FITS – the next issue pops up. The first dress looks great, but who wants every dress from this day forward to be the same style?

INTRODUCING – pattern makeovers! That perfectly fitting basic blouse or dress pattern can now be changed into dozens and dozens of new styles simply by making different sleeve styles, different necklines or changing the darts in the pattern. The pattern make-over classes give complete instructions on how to make TEN different sleeve styles from 1 basic sleeve, how to make EIGHT different neckline styles from 1 basic neckline, a complete instruction kit for making and changing the darts in the pattern to different locations, or add a dart or take a dart out of the pattern. The pattern makeover classes are available in average sizes and full figure/plus sizes.

Now for the great news!! The complete course for neckline make-overs and sleeve make-overs costs $9.95. The how to alter darts and Converting Maternity Patterns cost $14.95. You can get a whopping 40% discount on each of the 4 complete courses now through October 31 by using the code MAKEOVER. The sleeve and neckline changing classes will be $5.97 and the altering darts and converting maternity patterns classes will be $8.97 through midnight October 31.

Buy one or several of the classes and you can use that one perfectly fitting blouse/dress pattern and make literally DOZENS of new styles!

Now that cold weather is upon us, it is a perfect time to bring out some scraps and teach your child to sew. Or, if you have young children, sewing cards would be a great way to get them started sewing, while you’re busy at your sewing machine. The e-z-sew sewing cards come in 6 different variations. You simply print them on cardstock, then with a single hole puncher, punch out the spots marked, add a length of yarn, and presto! Your child has a set of cards to sew. You might want to make several sets so their friends can also try their hand with them.

For the older children, I’d recommend the Learn How To Sew book — If you already know how to sew and need help teaching a child, grandchild or friend. Look no further!! “Learn How To Sew” is the book you need! Whether you’re a pre-teen, teenager, senior citizen or anywhere in between, this book will teach you how to sew!

I have boxes of assorted sizes and colors of scrap fabrics, and my grandchildren LOVE to look through the fabrics to make pillows for their dolls, or decorations for a box that they’re using for their “stuff”. Just take a little time with your child or grandchild and let them be creative! You might be surprised at what all they’ll come up with!

The SimFlex Expanding Sewing Gauge gives you fast and accurate measuring. It is quick and easy to use.

At first glance, you’d think it might only be for measuring button/button hole spacing. While it is PERFECT for measuring accurace spaces for buttons and buttonholes, it has many other uses.

The SimFlex Expanding Sewing Gauge is great for use in shirring and smocking. Simply flex the gauge to the distance desired between the gathers when shirring or smocking, mark the sewing lines with chalk or washable marker.

This sewing gauge can also be used for measuring pleats, tucks and gathers in draperies and skirt and dress pleats.

For the quilters, this gauge can be used to mark several bias or straight strips at a time.

This sewing tool costs $15.95 and is available from SewWithSarah.com. The sewing tool comes with complete instructions for the various uses of the product.
I would highly recommend this tool. The time saved by getting instant and accurate measuring distances for such a variety of applications makes it well worth the money spent on it.

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